Gun rack



S. C. PARKER GUN RACK March 13, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1933 zz Z! /7 a a m l u u u u JU L LL U /5 'SheIdonQPar/(er March 13, 1934. s P R 1,951,255

GUN RACK Filed Feb. 10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 entree STATES PATENT @FFME 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination rifle rack and shipping case adapted to be used by military organizations and the like which are equipped with the regulation army and automatic rifles.

The object of the invention is to provide a case which serves as a rack in which the rifles may be stored and securely held in place against unauthorized removal and which will not properly receive a rifle that is cocked or which has a sprung stock and is so designed and constructed that the rifles may be quickly issued or re-racked and which may be, when desired, converted into a shipping case in which such equipment may be safely and conveniently. handled and transported, other advantages and objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of the device when used as a shipping case with the front binder boards removed and the slings detached from the rifles,

Figure 2, a view in elevation of the flrming slat, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,

Figure 3, a section on line 33 of Figure 1 with the slings attached and firming slat removed,

Figure 4, a similar section on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5, a perspective View of a portion of the support bar,

Figure 6, a perspective view of a portion of the securing car, and

Figure 7, a section on line 77 of Figure 1.

In the drawings reference numeral 10 indicates the frame work formed of the sides 11, a top 12 and a bottom 13 joined together in any suitable manner. A bar 14 is secured between the sides 11 directly beneath the top member 12 and the angle plates 15 are secured at the lower corners. The top member 12 is provided with a plurality of spaced notches or recesses 16 in the under side to receive the muzzles of the rifles when inserted therein. The muzzle implacement recesses 16 are located back of the bar 14, when viewed from the front, and are so designed that they will not properly receive a rifle if the front sight guard is not attached or if the front sight guard is on backwards.

Directly beneath the muzzle implacement recesses 16, corresponding slots 17 are provided in the bottom 13 to receive the butt ends of the rifles.

The sides 11 are provided with the notches 18 in which a securing bar 19 is placed so as to be flush with the outside edges of the sides 11 and to snugly engage the small of the stocks of the rifles as indicated in Figure 4. The securing bar is attached to one side by means of the hinge 20 and is fastened to the other side by any suitable fastening means such as pin 21 and suitable eyelets 22. The seciu'ing bar when properly positioned is directly under the driving pin plunger making it impossible to secure the bar in position when any rifle is cooked or when the stock is sprung or distorted. A support bar 23 is positioned in the frame beneath the sling at a point below the upper sling swivel. In order to accommodate an automatic rifle, the bars 19 and 23 7 are appropriately notched as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In the event of an assortment of rifles the bars may be notched accordingly. If the automatic rifle is provided with a flame guard it is removed and placed on the bolt 31 located in the lower corner and provided for that purpose.

A chain 24 is securely attached to one side 11 and is threaded through the trigger guards of the rifles and locked by means of a padlock 25 to the other side. Thus the rifles are firmly and securely positioned in the rack. Binder boards 2'7 may be applied to the back and front .(not shown) then the case is ready for transporting. Should the boards in any way be demolished or damaged, the equipment would be safe from removal as it would be necessary to break the locked chain to secure any of the pieces.

In the event the rifles are shipped without the slings attached, an additional firming slat 28 is provided. The slat 28 is provided with a wire 29 and a ring 30 attached to the center for easy removal and is positioned in the frame behind the support bar 23 as shown in Figures 1 and 7.

Thus it is clearly seen that the case may be utilized for safely transporting rifles whether the slings are attached or detached. Hooks 26 are positioned between the muzzle implacement notches and serve as supports for the cartridge belts and other accouterments thus enabling the men to keep their equipment in a neat and compact condition.

The use of the device as a rack is quite obvious. Considering the rifles positioned in the rack, it is only necessary to unlock the lock and remove the chain from the trigger guards, then after removing the securing bar 19 the rifles are easily withdrawn by pulling out on the stocks. The rifles are returned by simply inserting the muzzle in the muzzle implacement notches and then pushing the butt ends into the slots. The rifles i must necessarily be in proper condition for reracking otherwise it would be impossible to replace the bar 19. The rack and case described is primarily for use of a squad of men and the operation of issuing the rifles and re-racking the same is under the direct supervision of the corporal, thus a saving of time is evident and a sense of additional responsibility is vested in the corporal.

Suitable indicia may be inscribed on the rack to indicate the location of each mans equipment as well as the name of the person in charge of the particular rack. The effect on the men as well as the general utility of the rack is well understood and the ease and convenience ofhandling and adapting the same to serve as a rack or shipping case make it most desirable for barrack or field use.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A rifle rack comprising a frame provided with muzzle and butt implacement notches formed in the top and bottom thereof respectively, a support bar positioned across said frame adjacent the hand grips of said rifles, a firming slat positioned beneath said support bar, a securing bar mounted across said frame contacting the stocks of said rifles in close proximity to the firing pin plungers, said support and securing bars being notched to accommodate an auto matic rifle when placed therein, and means for locking the rifles in said frame against unauthorized removal, substantially as set forth.

2. A rack for rifles comprising a frame, the top of said frame being provided with recesses therein for receiving the muzzle of a rifle and the bottom of said frame being provided with slots therein for receiving the butt of a rifle, a support bar positioned across said frame adjacent the hand grips of said rifles, a securing bar adapted to be positioned transversely of said frame contacting the stocks of said rifles in close proximity to the firing pin plungers after the rifles have been placed in said rack, said bars being setflush with the front and back of said frame, and means threaded through the trigger guards of said rifles for locking said rifles in said frame, substantially as set forth.

3. A rack for rifles comprising a frame, the top of said frame being provided with recesses therein for receiving the muzzle of a rifle and the bottom of said frame being provided with slots therein for receiving the butt of a rifle, a support bar positioned across said frame adjacent the hand grips of said .rifles, a securing bar adapted to be positioned transversely of said frame contacting the stocks of said rifles in close proximity to the firing pin plungers after the rifles have been placed in said rack, said bars being set flush with the front and back of said frame and notched on the inner edges thereof to accommodate an automatic rifle when placed in said rack, substantially as set forth.

SHELDON C. PARKER. 

